Assessment perspectives for the orbital utilization of space debris

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 3-12
Author(s):  
A.P. Alpatov ◽  
◽  
Yu.M. Goldshtein ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Space Debris ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Space Object ◽  
Near Earth Space ◽  
Space Objects ◽  
Long Time ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Earth Orbits ◽  
Space Activities ◽  
Great Danger

Technogenic pollution of the near-Earth space by fragments of space debris of various sizes significantly limits the possibilities for implementing space activities and represents a great danger to objects on Earth. Low orbits with heights up to 2000 km are particularly heavily clogged. The Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee recommends removing fragments of space debris from the area of working orbits. Currently, promising ways of space debris removing are considered: descent into the Earth’s atmosphere, relocation to an orbit with a lifetime less than twenty-five years, relocation to an utilization orbit, and orbital disposal. Orbital utilization considers space debris as a resource for the industry in orbit. The objectives of the article are to assess the perspectives for the orbital utilization of space debris and to develop a method for choosing the number and placement of safe recycling orbits in the area of low near-Earth orbits. The paper analyses the prospects for the use of orbital utilization of space debris and the assessment of the possibilities of using orbital storage and subsequent reuse of dismantled space objects, instruments and materials. A number of problems of planning and organizing the orbital utilization of space debris are formulated and solved. A method for determining safe orbits of space debris utilization in the area of low near-Earth orbits based on a criteria system developed. Using the developed method and software package, the possible orbits of space debris utilization in the area of low near-Earth orbits are determined. The lifetime of a space object in the utilization orbit, the stability of the orbit of the utilization at a long time interval, and the energy consumptions for transferring the space object from the working orbit to the utilization orbit are estimated. The novelty of the obtained results consists in the development of a clustering technique for the orbits of utilized space debris objects and the development of a technique for selecting a possible orbit for the utilization of space debris in the area of low near-Earth orbits. The results obtained can be used in the planning and organization of the orbital utilization of space debris.

scholarly journals Construction of a model of evolution of objects of small-sized fraction of space debris formed as a result of destruction

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Gennady Konstantinovich Borovin ◽  
Mikhail Vitalyevich Zakhvatkin ◽  
Victor Arkadievich Stepaniants ◽  
Igor Vyacheslavovich Usovik
Keyword(s):  
Space Debris ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
System Of Equations ◽  
Mass Ratio ◽  
Space Object ◽  
Earth Space ◽  
Near Earth Space ◽  
Statistical Estimates ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Common Understanding

The paper proposes a approach for constructing a statistical model for the distribution of a small-sized fraction of space debris in near-earth space, based on a particular model of the evolution of objects of a small-sized fraction of space debris. An algorithm for predicting the evolution of objects of small-sized fraction of space debris formed as a result of the destruction of the parent space object over a long time interval is described, as well as a system of equations in variations for mass calculations and statistical estimates of the parameters of the distribution of space debris in near-earth space. At a time interval of 10 years, calculations were carried out to obtain a common understanding of the evolution and lifetime of fragments of space debris ranging in size from 0.01 to 1 mm in the orbits of real groups and individual spacecraft. The time of existence of objects of small-sized fraction of space debris of the specified sizes depending on the parameters of the orbit and the value of their area-to-mass ratio is determined.

Space Law and Hazardous Space Debris

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha Mejía-Kaiser
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Space Debris ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Space Agency ◽  
State Practice ◽  
Space Objects ◽  
Manned Space ◽  
Space Activities ◽  
Debris Mitigation

International space law is a branch of public international law. Norms of treaty law and customary law provide a foundation for the behavior of the subjects of international law performing space activities. Five multilateral space treaties are in effect, which are complemented by important recommendations of international organizations such as United Nations (UN) General Assembly Resolutions and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Regulations. The Inter-Agency Space Debris Mitigation Coordination Committee (IADC), a non-governmental body composed of several space agencies (for instance, the European Space Agency, the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, the Russian Federal Space Agency), issued its Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines in 2002. The IADC defines “space debris” as “all man-made space objects including fragments and elements thereof, in Earth orbit or re-entering the atmosphere, that are non-functional” (IADC, 2002, Revision 1, 2007, 3.1. Space Debris). Although the term “space debris” was not included in any space treaty, the drafters of the space treaties considered space objects as “hazardous” because “component parts of a space object as well as its launch vehicles and parts thereof” detach in course of normal launching operations, because space objects can fragment during an attempted launch, and because space objects that re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and survive friction have the potential to cause damage. In addition, radioactive and chemical substances on board space objects may represent a hazard to populations and the environment on the Earth. Besides the threats to aircraft in flight and to persons and property on the surface of the Earth, space debris in orbit is increasing alarmingly and poses a threat to manned space missions and non-manned space objects. While the Convention on International Liability for Damages Caused by Space Objects (Liability Convention, 1972) considers the threats of space objects during launch, in outer space, and when entering the Earth’s atmosphere, there have been efforts to minimize the generation of space debris in orbit, outside the framework of the space treaties. The IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines are a comprehensive list of recommendations to launching states, owners, and operators of space objects. They are increasingly recognized by states through the creation of codes of conduct, national legislation, recommendations of international organizations, and state practice. Furthermore, non-governmental institutions, like the International Organization for Standardization, are providing more detailed technical instructions for the implementation of the Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines, which are a breakthrough for the application of the guidelines by states of different economic and technical standing. Even though states are reluctant to accept new obligations through treaties, recommendations and state practice are becoming powerful instruments to avert the dangers of hazardous space debris that may create damage on the Earth or in orbit. Space debris also is becoming one of the drivers for the initiatives of the United Nations on the long-term sustainability of outer space activities to promote the existing mitigation guidelines and to formulate new guidelines for clearing outer space of debris.

International Liability for Commercial Space Activities and Related Issues of Debris

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elina Morozova ◽  
Alena Laurenava
Keyword(s):  
Space Debris ◽  
Artificial Satellite ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
International Space ◽  
Space Law ◽  
Air Space ◽  
Space Objects ◽  
Outer Space Treaty ◽  
International Liability ◽  
Space Activities

Space activities are technically sophisticated, challenging, and high risk endeavors. Notwithstanding precautionary measures that are taken by commercial operators, damage may be caused during space objects’ launching, passing through air space, in-orbit maneuvering and operating, and de-orbiting. The rules and procedures aimed at ensuring the prompt payment of a full and equitable compensation for such damage constitute the international liability regime, which is of crucial importance in space law. The first reference to international liability for damage caused by space objects and their component parts on the Earth, in air space, or in outer space, can be traced back to the very beginning of the space era. In 1963, just few years after the first ever artificial satellite was launched, international liability was declared by the UN General Assembly as one of the legal principles governing the activities of states in the exploration and use of outer space. It was later made legally binding by inclusion in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and received further development in the 1972 Liability Convention. The latter is generally referred to as lex specialis when the interrelation between the two international treaties is described and introduces several provisions that treat liability for damage caused in specific circumstances somewhat differently. International space law imputes liability on states that launch or procure launchings of space objects and states from whose territory or facility space objects are launched. This does not, however, exclude liability for damage caused by space objects, which are operated by private entities. Still, international liability for accidents involving commercial operators stays with the so-called “launching states,” as this term is defined by the Liability Convention for the same states that are listed in the Outer Space Treaty as internationally liable. Insurance is well known to settle liability issues, including those arising from commercial launches, however, it is not always mandatory. Frequently, space-related accidents involve non-functional space objects and their component parts, which are usually referred to as space debris. This may include spent rocket stages and defunct satellites, as well as fragments from their disintegration. Since the non-functional state of a space object does not change its legal status, the relevant provisions of international space law that are applicable to space objects continue to apply to what is called “space debris.” This means, in particular, that launching states are internationally liable for damage caused by space debris, including cases where such debris was generated by private spacecraft. The probability of liability becomes even higher when it comes to active space debris removal. Such space activities, which are extensively developed by private companies, are inextricably linked to potential damage. Yet, practical problems arise with identification of space debris and, consequently, an efficient implementation of the liability regime.

Austrian National Space Law

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cordula Steinkogler
Keyword(s):  
Space Debris ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
Planetary Science ◽  
Observation Data ◽  
Forthcoming Article ◽  
National Space ◽  
Space Objects ◽  
The Law ◽  
Space Activities ◽  
Debris Mitigation

This is an advance summary of a forthcoming article in the Oxford Encyclopedia of Planetary Science. Please check back later for the full article.The Austrian Outer Space Act, which entered into force in December 2011; and the Austrian Outer Space Regulation, which has been in force since February 2015, form the legal framework for Austrian national space activities. The elaboration of national space legislation became necessary to ensure compliance with Austria’s obligations as State Party to the five United Nations Space Treaties when the first two Austrian satellites were launched in 2012 and Austria became a launching state on its own. The legislation comprehensively regulates legal aspects related to space activities, such as authorization, supervision, and termination of space activities; registration and transfer of space objects; recourse of the government against the operator; as well as implementation of the law and sanctions for its infringement. One of the main purposes of the law is to ensure the authorization of national space activities. The Outer Space Act sets forth the main conditions for authorization, which inter alia refer to the expertise of the operator; requirements for orbital positions and frequency assignments; space debris mitigation, insurance requirements, and the safeguard of public order; public health; national security as well as Austrian foreign policy interests; and international law obligations. The Austrian Outer Space Regulation complements these provisions by specifying the documents the operator must submit as evidence of the fulfillment of the authorization conditions, which include the results of safety tests, emergency plans, and information on the collection and use of Earth observation data. Particular importance is attached to the mitigation of space debris. Operators are required to take measures in accordance with international space debris mitigation guidelines for the avoidance of operational debris, the prevention of on-orbit break-ups and collisions, and the removal of space objects from Earth orbit after the end of the mission. Another specificity of the Austrian space legislation is the possibility of an exemption from the insurance requirement or a reduction of the insurance sum, if the space activity is in the public interest. This allows support to space activities that serve science, research, and education. Moreover, the law also provides for the establishment of a national registry for objects launched into outer space by the competent Austrian Ministry. The first two Austrian satellites have been entered into this registry after their launch in 2012. The third Austrian satellite, launched in June 2017, will be the first satellite authorized under the Austrian space legislation.

The Indoor Automatic Guided Vehicle with an IR Positioning and Low-Cost Inertial Navigation System

2013 ◽  
Vol 300-301 ◽  
pp. 494-499
Author(s):  
Ming Feng Lu ◽  
Bang Cheng Liu ◽  
Jian Ping Wu ◽  
Fu Kuo Hsu ◽  
Wen Tzeng Huang
Keyword(s):  
Navigation System ◽  
Inertial Navigation System ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Inertial Navigation ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Automatic Guided Vehicle ◽  
Long Time ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Almost All

In this study an indoor automatic guided vehicle (AGV) which is not a line-following type is constructed. Low-cost inertial navigation system (INS) and indoor positioning system (IPS) are proposed to replace the high-cost laser navigation system. These AGVs are guided by their own INS almost all the time of running in our system. The IPS constructed by infrareds is used to calibrate the accumulative errors of the inertial system after a specific time interval. Testing results show deviation is about 5% after long time and long distance of movement. This research proves the stability of this system which allows AGVs to work in warehouses by low-cost INS and IPS.

scholarly journals Models of space object motion based on time series of TLE-elements

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-62
Author(s):  
O.P. Sarychev ◽  
◽  
B.A. Perviy ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Mathematical Models ◽  
Statistical Method ◽  
Space Debris ◽  
Launch Vehicle ◽  
Object Motion ◽  
Autoregressive Models ◽  
Space Object ◽  
Space Objects ◽  
Time Determination

Timely detection of changes in the characteristics of space hardware objects during their long-term operation is one of the main tasks in the development and study of onboard systems that maintain the efficiency of their operation. This paper presents a statistical method for simulating the motion of space objects (spacecraft and used launch vehicle stages) in the class of autoregressive models. The method allows one to improve the quality of description and prediction of the motion of space objects based on simulating time series of their TLE-elements (two-line orbital element sets). The purpose of this work is to increase the accuracy of mathematical models of the observed motion of space objects in the problems of deorbit time determination, satellite collision prediction, and space debris cataloging. The paper presents a system for simulating the motion of space objects, which allows one to determine an optimal amount of learning samples in simulating time series of TLE elements, determine the order of autoregression and find an optimal model structure for each variable element, identify model parameters in conditions of unequally spaced observations, identify features of the time behavior of the root-mean-square errors of the constructed autoregressive models on the basis of dividing the initial time series of TLE-elements into successive learning intervals, and obtain predictive estimates of the values of variable elements. The proposed statistical method of space object motion simulation can be recommended to describe and predict the motion of spacecraft and used launch vehicle stages represented as time series of TLE-elements (which are publicly available and regularly updated). The application of the proposed statistical method will increase the accuracy of mathematical models of the observed motion of space objects in the problems of deorbit time determination, satellite collision prediction, and space debris cataloging.

scholarly journals Methods of validation of the ballistic structure of space surveillance system orbital segment

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 155-165
Author(s):  
I. A. Fadin ◽  
S. V. Yanov ◽  
O. A. Samokhvalov
Keyword(s):  
Surveillance System ◽  
Space Debris ◽  
Target Function ◽  
Object Motion ◽  
Space Object ◽  
Scientific Methods ◽  
Optimization Task ◽  
Space Objects ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
Orbital Constellation

Space activity brought about the space debris problem that constitutes a threat to active spacecraft. Nowadays the most efficient way of spacecraft protection against space debris is choosing the appropriate orbit parameters to prevent collisions of space objects. To do this one should know the parameters of motion of space objects (SO). At present the task of determining SO orbit parameters is solved be means of the space surveillance system (SSS). The Russian space surveillance system includes only ground based facilities located on the territory of the Russian Federation and Tajikistan. This fact does not allow determining the parameters of SO motion over the Western and Southern Hemispheres. The task of monitoring SO in low orbits (up to 2000 km height) is of particular importance because there have already been collisions that generated a lot of debris which, in their turn, pose a new threat to Russian active spacecraft. To prevent prospective threats to the Russian orbital constellation associated with possible generation of new debris as a result of impacts or spontaneous separation (because of an explosion, for instance) of active SOs the parameters of motion of newly emerging space objects need to be determined quickly and efficiently. We propose to solve the task of online monitoring of space object motion by creating an orbital segment of SSS. The creation of the new system is to be preceded by the development of scientific methods for justification of its ballistic structure. This article presents a method based on the solution of an optimization task, where the target function is the dependence of the required number of measurer spacecraft on the quality indicators of space surveillance.

EFFICIENCY OF NEW METHODS FOR ESTIMATING ORBITS OF UNKNOWN NEAREARTH SPACE OBJECTS USING SHORT OPTICAL TRACKS OBTAINED OVER A FEW WEEKS INTERVAL

2019 ◽  
pp. 92-104
Author(s):  
A. P. Ivanov ◽  
A. E. Kolessa ◽  
A. P. Lukyanov ◽  
V. A. Radchenko
Keyword(s):  
A Priori ◽  
Quality Criterion ◽  
A Priori Information ◽  
Computing Power ◽  
Orbital Parameters ◽  
Near Earth Space ◽  
New Methods ◽  
Space Objects ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Priori Information

The work on a representative array of data demonstrates the capabilities of a new, essentially non‑linear algorithm for estimating the orbital parameters of near‑Earth space objects on several short optical tracks separated by long time pauses. The analysis of the work of the algorithm was carried out for five space objects moving in different orbits, including circular, high‑elliptical and low‑orbit with deceleration in the atmosphere and without it. When obtaining estimates of the parameters of the orbits, a priori information was not used. In all the experiments performed, including for very short tracks separated by a long pause in the observations, the minimum possible values of the quality criterion were achieved. The algorithm does not require large computing power – the calculation of the orbit on two tracks on a portable personal computer takes a split second.

scholarly journals MITIGASI SAMPAH ANTARIKSA: MENINJAU KESIAPAN REGULASI NASIONAL

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 89
Author(s):  
Shannon Suryaatmadja
Keyword(s):  
Space Debris ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Space Missions ◽  
Space Object ◽  
Space Activities ◽  
Soft Laws

AbstractThe rapid development of space activities has increased the risk of space object collisions in orbit, particularly of space debris. This situation potentially harms satellites and endangers space missions. To date, international efforts generally result in non-legally binding products or soft laws, providing only guidance to form a national legal framework in mitigating space debris. This article aims to review Indonesia’s efficacy in regulating its space activities to minimize space debris generation and risks. It also examines mitigation efforts in several other countries with the intention of providing input for the current national legal framework. IntisariPesatnya perkembangan kegiatan antariksa meningkatkan risiko tabrakan antar objek antariksa pada orbit bumi, terutama sampah antariksa. Situasi ini berpotensi merusak satelit hingga membahayakan keberlangsungan misi antariksa. Hingga kini, upaya internasional baru sanggup melahirkan produk hukum tidak mengikat, sehingga hanya mampu mengarahkan negara untuk menyusun kerangka hukum nasional dengan memperhatikan perihal mitigasi sampah antariksa. Artikel ini akan mengkaji kesiapan regulasi nasional untuk meminimalkan risiko timbul dan bertambahnya sampah antariksa. Dibahas pula perbandingan upaya mitigasi pada beberapa negara lain guna memberi masukan bagi Indonesia.

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